The Gambler (novel)

The player (Russian: Игрок, Igrok ) is a novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

Nestled in a burlesque, sometimes grotesquely funny story about a group of people who, standing close to financial ruin, in the fictional spa town Roulettenburg waiting for the windfall of a comprehensive, all redemptive inheritance, there are precise and detailed descriptions of game addiction that Dostoevsky knew from personal experience.

The novel is the template for Sergei Prokofiev's opera of the same (1917 ) as well as several films.

Background

The player appeared in 1867 shortly after Crime and Punishment in the first complete edition of the works of Dostoevsky. ; Dostoevsky dictated it to his stenographer and later wife Anna in only 26 days. Dostoevsky had in the summer of 1865 against the publisher Stellowski obliged to provide a novel with a circumference of 10 printed sheets until November 1. The delivery time was - although Stellowski St. Petersburg left on October 31, just to make it impossible for the delivery - respected as the stenographer Anna came up with the idea to deposit the manuscript with a notary.

The novel is autobiographical. One could further at Roulettenburg to Wiesbaden think where Dostoevsky himself for the first time played roulette, or at Bad Homburg - these two cities for themselves claim to be Dostoevsky Roulettenburg. However, it is mentioned in the story Homburg next Roulettenburg than non-identical city.

More autobiographical elements can be found in the description of the relationship between Alexei and Polina: Here Dostoevsky has his unrequited love for Apollinarija ( " Polina " ) Suslova processed literary.

Content

The heavily indebted Russian general waiting in Roulettenburg surrounded by his family, friend and some creditors to the news that the rich aunt faded away and he can inherit them. This is his only chance to settle the debt with the arrogant Frenchman de Grieux, the cavalier of Polina, the stepdaughter of General. At the same time this money thrust would promote a wedding between the General and also not impecunious Mademoiselle Blanche, in which the much older general is hopelessly in love. The tutor of the General, the narrator Alexei Ivanovich, observed the intrigues of the French, who has allied himself with Blanche secretly, and vying with him for the favor of Polina, in which he is madly in love. However, uses him, mocked him and punishes him with contempt.

Suddenly, the feisty matriarch appears instead of the hoped telegram from the death of the aunt even on the scene. Interested in the roulette she lets everyone know their feelings and thoughts of the opposite situation openly: The General will get no money from it. On the contrary - it has yet everyone around her, especially her family, their unconditional claim to rule in his place.

A few days later, the disaster is complete: My aunt has lost a large fortune at roulette and moves back to Moscow. De Grieux leaves Polina, Mademoiselle Blanche is no longer interested in the general, who now, after he had to watch the disappearance of his legacy with day after day, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Now Polina Aleksej confesses her love, then passes immediately to the Casino in order to raise the money for the debt with de Grieux. After this it is also actually managed Polina and he recognize, however, that his love for her has turned into gambling, because quarante him the surprising gain of 100,000 florins at Roulette and Trente et completely the playfulness and greed can fall prey. Polina flees to Mr. Astley, a cool, reserved Englishman who takes care of them yourself. Even to him Aleksej has a friendly relationship, but does not go into Confidential and thus it carries damage by Polina bitterness.

Ultimately Aleksej pulls with Mademoiselle Blanche in Paris. She treats him like a lap animal; a treatment that is also the General received after he traveled after and arrived in Paris. After the Frenchwoman has brought the 100,000 florins with pomp and luxury, including through a wedding ( just for the sake of the title) with that in the meantime slipped off into the dullness General, leaves Aleksej impoverished Paris and is reflected as a lackey in Homburg and Baden Baden - through. Once he has earned money, he carries it to the roulette. Even the news of Mr. Astley, that Polina wanted to see him again, he can not tear himself away from his gambling addiction, which now completely fills him.

Films

• The rolling ball is the title of a silent film adaptation of 1919 under the direction of Rudolf Biebrach. Martha Angerstein acts as Pauline Sagorianskij and Rudolf Biebrach as General Bieniek.
• The player, even a player's novel, Germany 1938 - Director: Gerhard Lamprecht. With Eugen Klopfer (General Kirileff ), Albrecht Schoenhals ( Dr. Tronka ), Lida Baarova (Nina ) and Hannes Stelzer ( Alexei Nikitin ).
• The player (OT: The Great Sinner ). 1948 Directed by Robert Siodmak played Gregory Peck ( Fyodor ), Ava Gardner ( Pauline Ostrovsky ), Walter Huston (General Ostrovsky ).
• Le joueur ( German title: The player who also went under the game was his curse ). 's The title of a French film from 1958 directed by Claude Autant - Lara played Gérard Philipe ( Alixei Ivanovitch ) and Liselotte Pulver ( Pauline Zagorianski ) the lead roles. Bernard Blier was Le Général Zagorienski.
• Le joueur is the title of a French film from 1962, directed by François Gir that combined André Charpak as Alexis, Huguette Hue as Pauline and Michel de Ré as Le général.
• The Gambler is, a TV film from 1968, directed by Michael Ferguson. John Phillips played the General, Maurice Roëves the Alexi and Georgina Ward who Polina.
• Dark days in St. Petersburg ( OT: The Gambler ) 1997 - Director: Károly Makk. The General was here played by John Wood, Alexei by Dominic West and Polly Walker of Polina.
• The player, German film from 2005 directed by Erhard Riedlsperger. Hannelore Elsner is seen in the role of player Polina Sieveking.
• Players (OT: The Gamblers ), German film from 2007 directed by Sebastian Bieniek, who also plays the Alexei. Frederike Wet is Polina.

Current Issues

• Fyodor M. Dostoevsky: The player. From the records of a young man (Translated by Svetlana Geier ). Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2011, ISBN 978-3-596-18899-4.
• Fyodor M. Dostoevsky: The player. From the records of a young man (Translated by Arthur Luther ). dtv 19107, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-423-19107-4.
• Fyodor M. Dostoevsky: The player. From the notes of a young man (Translated by Werner Creutziger ). Construction -TB 6110, Berlin 2008, ISBN 978-3-7466-6110-0.
• Fyodor M. Dostoevsky: The player. From the records of a young man (Translated by Hermann Röhl ). Anaconda, Cologne 2005, ISBN 978-3-938484-49-4.

• Fyodor M. Dostoevsky: The player. [ Radio play, directed by Gert Westphal ], Hörverlag, Munich 2011, ISBN 978-3-86717-726-9 (Audio CD).
• Fyodor M. Dostoevsky: The player. [Unabridged reading. With Michael redhead. Translated by Svetlana Geier. SWR. Director Felicitas Ott ] DAV, Berlin 2011, ISBN 978-3-86231-055-5 (5 Audio CDs, about 393 minutes ).